Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is here, and the holiday is celebrated widely in the United States, complete with drinks and food specials at bars, along with folks gathering at their homes over margaritas and tacos. The true root of Cinco de Mayo is much deeper, and with the holiday trending on X, some are sharing the day’s true significance.
Cinco de Mayo’s historical significance is explained briefly
here:
Since the 1800s, the day has somewhat focused on celebrating the connection between Mexican and American culture. In some cities, parties, musical performances, parades, and food will be a centerpiece. A fair point of criticism of the day is people not of Mexican descent putting on outfits connected to the country’s culture, yet enforcing offensive stereotypes. Beyond Puebla, the holiday isn’t widely celebrated in Mexico.
The true root of Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the Mexican military against French invaders at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza led his troops against the relatively advanced military might of the French soldiers, giving them a boost in morale. Military leaders in the United States came to the aid of Mexico, causing the French to vacate their occupation in 1867.
The warm embrace of the holiday by Americans has always struck some as curious, considering how specific the holiday is to Mexican culture. Some in the States still gather and engage in revelry on the day, but do so without donning sombreros or leaning into stereotypes.
On X, we’ve got reactions from those looking to educate the masses on Cinco de Mayo’s true significance. You can find those replies below.
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Photo: picture alliance / Getty
